14
LUKE EXITED the Federal Building in Tampa near dinnertime. He’d started his day with the feds right after breakfast. He couldn’t eat much, his ribs still ached from the fight he had with Max.
Max hurt more, though.
Vanessa’s brother—it didn’t even seem right to call him that—was nursing his wounds in the infirmary of a federal prison. It was where he’d spend the rest of his years.
Some bruised ribs and a sprained shoulder were small prices to pay for the end result, and it had gotten better over the week since their confrontation. Max and Julie were both apprehended and the software was off the black market for good.
Luke hadn’t spoken to Vanessa since she’d raced into Max’s house as he and Luke had fought, with the Puerto Rican police right behind her. Julie was already in custody at that point—apparently, she and Vanessa had come to blows, and Vanessa had come out on top.
The memory made Luke smile. And then frown. After that day, he’d barely seen her except a few times on the island. They’d taken separate flights home, both of them detained for medical treatment and questioning by a number of agencies. Luke’s work with Homeland Security had gone on even longer. It had consumed almost every minute since he’d returned, but his software was in the right hands now.
He checked his phone again, on reflex, but there was no call, no message.
He supposed that was the message, and he was surprised how much it hurt.
Checking his watch, he arrived at the café where he was supposed to meet Jonas, his cousin from Philly. Jonas was in town on another job, and no doubt, had orders from Garrett to check in on Luke. His cousins had been concerned when they heard what had happened. They’d read him the riot act for not asking for their backup, and Luke knew they’d been worried. And they would have been there; they always had his back.
Considering his relationship with his cousins, he understood the deep drive that had kept Vanessa hoping that she could find Julie and ultimately reconcile. It was why she probably hated him right now for testifying against her sister.
He couldn’t blame her, but he wished things were different.
He spotted Jonas standing near the bar about the same time his cousin saw him. The two met halfway, sharing a brotherly hug and handshake.
The hug made Luke wince, and Jonas stepped back, taking a long look. “Ribs still hurt?”
“A bit.”
“Let me buy you a beer, and you can fill me in on the details. We’ve only got some of the story.” He crossed the room, grabbing one of the few open tables.
“I tried to tell Garrett on the phone, but he was too busy yelling at me for not asking for help,” Luke said drily.
“Which you deserved. What we heard coming out of Puerto Rico sounded pretty hairy. If you’d called, we would have been there.”
“I know. It means a lot to me, but it was something I had to handle on my own.”
The guys lifted the beers that were delivered to them just a few minutes later.
“But you weren’t alone, right? Tell me the rest,” Jonas said, sitting back in the chair.
Luke took a deeper drink from his glass and then did so, filling in as much as he could for Jonas, who listened patiently. Jonas always had been the brother that Luke had related to best, probably because they were about the same age. But Jonas had a way about him, as well, something that drew people out. Made them talk. It had made him a heck of a cop before he’d been a bodyguard.
“So that’s pretty much all that happened,” Luke finished, grabbing the menu from the holder on the table, suddenly hungry.
“Wow, that’s all? You stopped a significant black- market sale of your stolen software, and arrested the major figures of a crime ring that left at least one person in your company dead. Not bad for a week’s work,” Jonas said with his trademark sarcasm, but there was also a gleam of admiration in his eyes. “You kicked ass, Luke. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Luke said, staring at the menu.
“You going to order?”
“Huh?”
“Food. Are you going to order?”
Luke’s appetite went as quickly as it came. He pushed the menu over to Jonas as his eyes drifted to his phone yet again.
“I don’t think so. It’s early yet.”
“She hasn’t called you, huh?” Jonas said, shaking Luke out of his blank stare.
“What?”
“Vanessa? Don’t even bother denying it. Every time you said her name in the last half hour you looked down at your phone on the table. You two have a date? Don’t worry about leaving me on my own. I need to eat and get back to work.”
Luke frowned. “I didn’t think I was so obvious.”
Jonas grinned. “Not obvious, just stupid in love.”
Luke’s head snapped up. “Love? No. I just wish it could have been different. We had good chemistry.”
“Why past tense?”
“I’m testifying against her sister, Jonas. I still want Julie to pay for everything she did, and then some. That doesn’t exactly endear me to Vanessa. She’s back and has had time to think, and you know, she probably hates my guts about now.”
Jonas stared, his eyebrows lifting. “Probably? She told you that?”
“No. I haven’t seen her except in passing since everything went down on the island.”
“And you didn’t call her? Check in on her?”
“I’ve been caught up with the feds, but even so, I thought it was best to give her some space. I figured if she wanted—”
“Wait, so you just expected her to come to you, and you’re going to use her not doing that as your out. I guess I was way off. You sounded like you cared about this woman.”
Luke’s frown deepened. “I do care about her, but I don’t want to assume—”
Jonas made a sour face. “You know what they say about assuming. Only in this case, it’s just making an ass out of you.”
“Funny.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be funny. It’s true,” his cousin said, sitting forward, his hands folded on the table. “Listen, if you want her, you need to let her know. You have to find out for sure, or you’ll wonder forever if you let something good go.”
“I don’t know about that. I—”
“I’ve been there, take it from me,” Jonas interrupted. “I almost let Tessa go, pushed her away, hard. Would have been the biggest mistake of my life if she hadn’t had the good sense to keep coming back. So don’t assume, and don’t make excuses because you’re afraid.”
“Afraid? Of what?”
“Of being burned again. I guess I can’t blame you for being cautious with Vanessa—she not only looks like her sister, but now her sister—the one who messed you up last time—is back in the picture. It’s a disaster. You know, forget what I just said. I think you’re probably smart to stay out of it. Being with this woman is asking for more trouble. Crazy seems to run in the family.”
Luke shook his head. “No. You don’t know her. She’s not like Julie, not in the least. For sure she’s nothing like Max. Vanessa has heart. She’s sweet, generous, kind. Sexy. She’s...” Luke’s voice drifted off, as if he heard himself for the first time. “I have to go. Rain check on dinner.”
Jonas chuckled. “Yeah, I figured.”
Luke stood, pausing to look down at his cousin. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Go get her, man. Make as big of a fool of yourself as necessary. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.”
With a sense of reinvigorated purpose, Luke slapped Jonas on the shoulder and left the restaurant, flipping open his phone. He had no idea where Vanessa might be, and thought the tracker he’d planted on Vanessa might be offline by now. To his surprise, a small blip showed up on his app screen.
She was at the school.
Running down the street toward where he parked his car, he hurried to get there before she left.
* * *
VANESSA WAS EXHAUSTED but still excited as she waited for Mr. Edwards to show up for their afternoon meeting. They’d agreed to meet in her old classroom, where she was still packing up some things she’d left behind.
Several days of being grilled by men in suits was no fun at all. She’d flown back to the States almost immediately, keeping track of Julie and wanting to make sure she was there for her. Her sister refused to see her, wouldn’t talk to her. She was angry and afraid. Vanessa understood and was determined to see it through. She’d spent a few days getting an apartment and reassessing her life. That’s what she was here to talk to the principal about.
“Ms. Grant, thanks for waiting. Sorry I’m late, I had to meet with some parents,” he said, his eyes traveling over her face as if assessing her current state compared to the last time they’d spoken. “You look better. Things have improved?”
Vanessa nodded. “Very much so. The danger has passed, and I’ve got a new place to live, but...I think you were right. There’s still a lot I need to work through, and I’d hoped I could take the next few months off and start again in January, as we discussed before.”
Edwards noted the box on her desk. “I thought you’d be here asking to return immediately. Not that we wouldn’t be thrilled to have you, but I think the time off will be a good idea. How are you doing?”
His gaze was piercing, as if he could tell if she was answering honestly or not. Probably what made him an effective principal, she thought with a smile.
“I’m better. But I have to straighten out some things first. I need to see my parents, and I know the papers covered some of what happened in Puerto Rico, but I found my sister. We were separated when we were young.”
“Yes, I remember reading something about that. It sounded complicated.”
“It is. She’s had a difficult time, and I want to be there for her, to help her and maybe to rebuild our relationship. I know that it’s going to take some time, and I want to be able to give the students, and the school, my best. So it would be better if I could focus on my life for the next few months, and then return to work. I don’t expect to be paid for that time off, but—”
“Like I said, the paperwork for a paid leave has already been processed. You wouldn’t want me to have to redo all of that, would you?” he asked with a humorous glint in his eye.
“Well, if you put it that way,” she said with a smile of her own. “That’s very generous. Thank you.”
“You’re one of our best teachers, and you deserve our support. And I find it admirable that you’re going to be there for your sister. I hope that all works out.”
“I hope so, too. But I don’t have any illusions about it, either. I know there’s a chance that it won’t. She’s...been the way she is for a long time. I don’t know if she’ll change, but at least she’ll know I’m here if she does.”
“And we’ll be here if you need us, too. Feel free to come by my office anytime, if you need to talk, or if something changes. I’m always willing to listen, or to help in any way I can. Like I said, I know about the kind of trauma you’ve been through.”
Vanessa was moved by his generosity, as she had been by several of her friends while facing getting her life back together. She was working on having realistic expectations; her former ideas about her sister and their reconciliation had been fantasies.
She’d learned that the hard way. Luke had been right about Julie—mostly—not that she had a chance to tell him that. She hadn’t heard a word from him. What they’d had on the boat was a fantasy, too. Now she was firmly grounded in reality. And reality had its good points, too—like people who stood by you.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Edwards. I will definitely be in touch, and I plan to be back in this classroom come January.”
“That’s good to hear.”
While a handshake would be more appropriate, Vanessa caved to her emotions and stepped forward, giving the principal a hug. As she looked over his shoulder for that quick second, she was shocked to see Luke standing in the doorway of the classroom, his gaze glued to them. Vanessa let go quickly.
“Well, I’d better get back to my office. Lots of work to do at the start of the semester,” Edwards said, looking speculatively from Vanessa to Luke. “That is, if you want me to go?”
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” Vanessa said, her voice slightly breathless as she continued to hold Luke’s gaze—which cooled considerably when he looked at the principal.
Luke stepped inside the classroom, holding his hand out to Edwards, as Vanessa watched, still in shock.
“Luke Berringer.”
Recognition of the name showed in Edwards’s expression—of course he’d read the news—and he smiled. “Good to meet you. I’ll just be going now.”
As Edwards left them alone, the words dried up in Vanessa’s throat. She had no idea what to say.
She held back tears she’d been fighting since she’d last seen Luke. She sat down on a nearby chair and covered her face.
When Julie had forced her hand, Vanessa had known her answer—and her feelings for him—right away. No way could she have left him there to die. Not for anyone, not even for Julie. She’d known in that instant that she’d fallen in love with him, but clearly, he hadn’t felt the same.
“Vanessa, please, I don’t want to make you cry.”
Wiping her tears away, she summoned her courage and glanced up at him.
“I’m sorry. It’s just been a stressful time, and I didn’t expect to see you.”
What was he doing here? He looked amazing, cool and steady in his khaki cargo shorts and white tee, watching her with eyes that seemed to see everything. But he also looked tired, and strained.
“I know. I had to see you. I’m sorry for interrupting.”
“It’s okay. What brings you here?”
She was proud of herself for not sounding too desperate, even though her heart was pounding inside her chest.
“You. We need to talk.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I thought maybe you needed time to yourself. And there was a lot to straighten out with the authorities. I thought that would never end.” Then he shook his head before she could respond. “No. That’s not it. Well, not all of it. The truth is, I didn’t think you’d want to see me. Not after everything that happened.”
She stared at him in surprise. “I thought the same thing. I thought you were over me. That it was merely a...fantasy.”
Luke pursed his lips, which made her want to kiss him. She missed him terribly, and it was almost harder to have him so close than when he had been avoiding her.
“It was a fantasy, but it was more than that, too. I’ve missed you. I’ve thought about nothing else since we left the island, but I hadn’t heard from you, and I knew you’d gone with Julie, so...I thought it was better for me to stay out of it. To let you two mend things, if you could. But I was just making excuses. I understand if I’m too late, but I needed to tell you that, and I had to at least thank you.”
“Thank me? For what?”
“When I saw you at the house, when you drove up with the police, and Julie, I was so shocked, but I shouldn’t have been. You stand by people. That’s who you are. And now—” he took a deep breath “—I know that I didn’t do that for you. I’ve been an idiot. I should have contacted you right away, but I was afraid.”
That caught her off guard. “Afraid of what?” She couldn’t imagine him afraid of anything. He’d charged back up to a house of killers to lead them away from her—put his own life in danger to save her and Julie. He was fearless.
“That you wouldn’t want me, or that it was all over. I thought what happened with Julie hurt, and it did, but not because I loved her. She hurt my ego, my pride. But with you... I know it would hurt a lot worse to lose you, but I still wanted to let you know how I feel.”
The idea that she could hurt him stunned her and moved her all at once. Her heart came alive as she took in the expression on his face, the emotion in his eyes. She closed the distance and took his face in her hands, needing him to listen.
“Of course I came back for you. I was terrified that something had happened to you because you tried to save us. I thought I would do anything for Julie to save her, but in that last moment, I knew I wouldn’t let her hurt you. Not again. Not ever.”
“Why, Vanessa?”
She knew what he wanted to hear. And what she wanted to tell him.
“Because I love you. And I would die before I’d let anyone hurt you, even my sister. Anyone. I love you so much—”
He stopped her with a kiss, and then leaned his forehead against hers.
“I love you, too. I’ve loved you since that first kiss, or since I saw you wrapped up in a robe in my apartment, looking so fragile, but being so tough. Maybe even when you were practically spitting at me across that jail cell. I was so angry with Julie, so focused on vengeance, that I couldn’t imagine how you could love me.”
“I’ve loved you since you first touched me, too. And I wasn’t completely right about things, either. I should have listened to you about her. But when she made me choose, it was an easy choice,” she said with a smile, kissing him again, her heart complete.
His mouth was soft on hers, gentle, as if he was afraid that anything more would shatter the moment. He brushed a thumb over her cheek.
“I made you cry.”
Her hands settled lightly on his chest as she focused on him, solemn. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw you standing there. I thought I’d never have a chance to touch you like this again.”
“Now we have all the time in the world.”
She smiled. “That’s a nice thought.”
His expression turned serious again.
“Speaking of Julie, how is she?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “Not great, I imagine. She won’t take my calls, and no one will tell me anything. She was very angry with me the one time I did talk to her. She accused me of betraying her after she tried to help us. I can’t believe it, that after everything, she says I betrayed her.”
He looked at her intently. “Because you chose not to let her go?”
She nodded weakly. Vanessa knew that she’d done the right thing, but she hated thinking about her sister suffering in jail in the years to come because of the choice she’d made.
“How are you handling it all?”
“I’m doing okay. Better now,” she answered, turning her lips into his palm. “It’s been difficult. I have a lot to sort through. The school is giving me paid leave at least until January, and that will help.”
“If you’ll let me, I can try to help you with that and I can help Julie, too. I’ll make some calls and get her a good lawyer, make sure she’s treated well. We’ll get her the best help, I promise.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“I do. You were right. She was being manipulated by Max, and she was being used. I’m sorry I didn’t listen. She did the things I accused her of, but I...feel sorry for her, too. And she’s your family.”
Vanessa’s pretty brown eyes widened and filled with tears.
“Oh, Luke, that means so much to me.”
He framed her face with his hands. “I know you. I know how much you care, and that you never give up on the ones you care about. Do you know how rare that is?”
She sniffled and he wiped hot tears off her cheeks.
“I think what we have is more rare, what we have together,” she said huskily. “What we could have.”
He smiled. “On that we agree.”
The stress, tension and gray misery that had dogged her for days lifted as she turned her face up for his kiss.
Luke kissed her again, and it was only at that point that everything started really being okay again. He was here, holding her, his mouth moving urgently on hers, as if he were as desperate for her as she was for him.
Vanessa pressed into the comforting heat of his body. This was good. This was better than good. For the first time in a while, she really felt like things might be all right.
“I could borrow the boat again for the weekend,” he offered. Desire stirred in her blood. It was wonderful after being so numb for days. She wanted to get her life back on track, and to help Julie, but she and Luke needed time, too. Time to heal, and time to enjoy these new feelings they had for each other.
He nuzzled her cheek, which led to nuzzling her ear. That led to the deep need to get her clothes off—and his—so that he could nuzzle everything else.
“A weekend on the boat sounds lovely. And I have to go to Vermont to see my parents. We could get an inn, if you wanted to come, too?”
“That sounds nice. I like Vermont. Maybe we could stop in Philly, and you could meet my cousins,” he said, nibbling at her neck.
“I’d love that. I’d like to tell them in person how much I appreciated their assistance.”
“But right now, we need to get out of this classroom and somewhere more private,” he said, pressing his sweet lips against her mouth.
Vanessa let her kiss tell him how much she agreed with that idea. No matter where they went, here in Luke’s arms, she knew she was already right where she belonged.
* * * * *